An alliance of workers’ organizations in the country’s media and showbiz sectors is pushing for party-list accreditation with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in a bid for a congressional seat in next year’s elections.

Disclosing their agenda at Thursday’s “Usapang Daungan sa Danarra Hotel” forum in Quezon City, leaders of the Alyansa ng Media at Showbiz (AMS) vowed to represent the oft-forgotten socio-economic concerns of middle and sub-level members of media and show business.

AMS President and veteran radio broadcaster Rolando B. Gonzalo said most members of media belong to a marginalized sector, often oppressed and facing incredible work hazards.

“AMS will advance the social-economic concerns of those working in the (media) industry. Writers, editors, cameramen, photographers, production assistants, technical crews, and other employees of the broadcast and print media are within the ambit of this alliance,” Gonzalo said.
 
He said scholarships for members and delegates, housing projects, free legal services, medical and burial benefits as well as livelihood services must be made available to workers in the media industry.

Initially joining the AMS is the Liga ng Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, Inc. that Gonzalo also heads; National Press Club (NPC); and Asosasyon ng Manggagawa ng Pelikulang Pilipino.

Film Academy of the Philippines Director Leo Martinez, said movie industry guilds will also join the bandwagon with film director Romy V. Suzara standing as secretary general of the AMS.

“Principally, policy advocacies of the movie industry should be heard in the halls of Congress,” said Martinez, citing how government intervention such as by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) hurts the entertainment industry.

In a statement released in the forum, Suzara also championed the cause of workers most affected economically by the dying movie industry.

He referred to them as “the lowly lagaristas, the movie talents and extras, theater employees and stuntmen” as well as directors, scriptwriters, cinematographers, editors, production designers, sound technicians, actors, and actresses.

Together, media groups and actors’ guilds spread nationwide are expected to fulfill the Comelec requirement of existing organizational chapters in at least eight of the 14 regions in the country to qualify as a partylist group.

Gonzalo, who is also vice president of the NPC, is confident this requirement will be met with the many press clubs spread throughout the country.

He underscored that the AMS will not include owners of media outfits as their concerns are separate from the interests of the marginalized members of the media industry.

“Their support for AMS advocacies, however, are welcome,” said Gonzalo.

At present, the AMS has as its support groups the Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng Pelikulang Pilipino; Directors Guild of the Philippines Inc.; Philippine Motion Picture Directors’ Association; Kapisanan ng mga Artista sa Pelikula at Telebisyon, Production Designers Guild of the Philippines; Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club; and Benguet Press Club.